AN ORIGAMI BOUQUET was featured at the Wakamatsu Farm Festival this past Saturday. Democrat photo by Dawn Hodson

PERFORMING ARTIST Naoko plays the Koto, a sixteenth century Japanese stringed musical instrument before an audience at the Wakamatsu Farm Festival. Democrat photo by Dawn Hodson.

CERAMIC ARTIST and Folsom Lake College instructor Brian Hayes of Placerville demonstrates throwing on the wheel to a crowd of interested onlookers at the Wakamatsu Festival on May 17. Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

JOURNALIST RYUSUKE KAWAI, of Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, left, holds a vase as Rumiko Meguro, of Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, prepares to place flowers on Okei's grave at the Wakamatsu Festival in Placerville on May 18. Meguro works to preserve Okei's history, both in the United States and Japan. Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

OKEI MEMORIAL SERVICE - Rumiko Meguro of Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan places flowers on Okei's grave at the Wakamatsu Festival in Placerville on May 18. Meguro works to preserve Okei's history, both in the United States and Japan. Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene